As a race-horse, one enthusiast assures us, the Arab is superior to every other natural breed; he is beaten only by his own half-breed offspring--the English Race-horse. But this seems to be rather an over-estimate.
[Illustration: _Photo by the Duchess of Bedford_] [_Woburn Abbey._
A Continental breed. This horse is believed to be the only one of its kind in England.]
The colour of the Arab varies; white is the most highly esteemed, but bay and chestnut are common, black being rare. Strange as it may seem, the white breed is never born white.
[Illustration: _Photo by T. Fall_] [_Baker Street._
A specimen of the English carriage-horse.]
The great affection of the Arab for his horse is proverbial. The following story is certainly worth repeating: "The whole stock of an Arab of the desert consisted of a mare. The French Consul offered to purchase her, in order to send her to his sovereign, Louis XIV. The Arab would have rejected the proposal; but being miserably poor, with scarcely a rag to cover him, his wife and children starving, he was tempted greatly. At length he yielded. He brought the mare to the consul's house, and stood leaning on her neck, and looking, now at the gold, and now at the horse. The gold was good to look upon; it would make him rich for life. Turning at last to his favourite, he said: 'To whom is it I am going to yield thee up? To Europeans, who will tie thee close, who will beat thee, who will make thee miserable. Return with me, my beauty, my jewel, and rejoice the hearts of my children.' At the last of these words he sprang upon her back, and was in a few moments out of sight."
This is an African breed, which, like the generality of African horses, is distinguished from those of Asia by its long limbs and small girth at the loins, thus resembling the foals of other breeds. It displays great powers of enduring hunger and thirst; and is fleet, with a high and graceful action. The barb takes its name from its native land--Barbary. It is a larger breed than the Arab.
[Illustration: _Photo by C. Reid_] [_Wishaw, N.B._
A perfect English thoroughbred. With this racer Lord Rosebery won the Derby in 1894.]
These are very closely allied to the Arab, but generally of larger size; and in Southern Persia, at least, less delicately framed. The Turkoman horses are related to those of Northern Persia.